Link – It’s an article from the LA Times (posted on the Car Lounge) about Iraqi car enthusiasts finally getting to enjoy themselves along with some hair-raising stories depicting the consequences of being a car enthusaist in Iraq. Stories include being chased from Jordan to Iraq, attempted car jacking, among others. Shows how much they love their hobby that they are willing to risk their life to enjoy it and add some semblance of sanity to balance their chaotic atmosphere. Its touching.

Awesome video footage of the old BMW M1 Procar Series that used to be a support race during the F1 weekend. In addition to the M1 drivers, the top four F1 drivers from free practice would also race in the series. Too bad that would never happen now. 😦

In this particular clip, they are racing at Monaco.

The cars themselves are powered by a 3.4L mid-engined inline-6 motor making 277hp. They weighed just over 3100lbs. Details on the car can be found here.

The racing series will be re-incarnated for this year’s German Grand Prix at Hockenheim, but don’t expect any of the current F1 drivers to participate.

Here’s an excellent review & technical insight on the revised Porsche 911 (997). It finally features direct injection in the engine as well as a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox (PDK). Another innovation would be a revolutionary oil pump that pumps oil at variable flow rate based on engine load.

The website has an excellent layout too. Be sure to watch the video about running the engine on a dyno as it simulates g-force loading. This was done to ensure the engine would be lubricated under any condition.

Here’s yet another example of stupidity from the CAW union leaders, who are fighting to keep alive the Oshawa truck plant.

The background for those who don’t know: The GM Oshawa plant produces full size SUVs. GM & CAW signed contract over keeping plants open. Gas hit stratospheric prices with no sign of easing back down. SUV sales plummet and GM can’t sell them anymore, so they decide to shut down the Oshawa plant. This angers the CAW workers at that plant since they will lose their jobs, which is fair. However, they seem to think it is their right to work at that plant. They could also apply for a job at one of the many non-unionized plants (run by Honda & Toyota) in Ontario. But no, they’ve resorted to picketing at the GM Corp campus as well as coming up with useless rhetoric. Well, I should clarify, its Buzz Hargove (the head honcho) that says the stupid shit, not the actual workers in the Union. He doesn’t seem to realize that the market demands have made that Oshawa plant redudant.

So anyway, here is the latest statement where another CAW person tells Americans to not buy Japanese car because of Pearl Harbour.

“Ron [CAW chair at GM] spoke about NASCAR trip. He questioned Americans buying Kia, Toyota, Honda. Reminded them of 9/11. ‘Would you buy from Iraqi or Afghani dealerships?’ Their response was ‘No!’ So Ron asked ‘Why do you buy from Japanese dealers? – What about Pearl
Harbour?'”